Almond milk truly "does a body good" ...

I'm a momma of four little vibrant children. During two of the four pregnancies, I adhered to a raw vegan diet consisting of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. When I compare my raw vegan pregnancies with the others, my experience was so radically different I just need to share.

During my raw vegan pregnancies I experienced very little nausea, if at all; my energy levels soared; I gained minimal weight that later came off with ease; I had no cravings at all; and I had an overall positive sense of well being. During my "cooked" pregnancies I had incredible nausea to the point of vomiting; I craved "junk" food incessantly; I gained much more weight which was much harder to lose after pregnancy; and I generally did not enjoy being pregnancy.

What I learned over the years I was pregnant is that the cleaner I ate and the more I adhered to a raw plant food diet, the better my body responded to pregnancy. On a raw vegan diet my body eased into the changes of pregnancy, I embraced and cherished every moment and felt overwhelmed with bliss. Cooked food caused me to feel completely different while pregnant. I gained unnecessary weight, which caused me to be frustrated and I struggled with a lot of indigestion and all around discomfort. I don't have any physiological reason for my experiences. I only know, down deep inside, that what I was doing had everything to do with how I was feeling. ...

You just gotta try this super delicious and refreshing Summer treat ...

On a very hot and sticky day, my kids and I needed something very cool and refreshing - I just knew this was the perfect opportunity for my classic raw vegan Fruity Summer Slushies. I've made these before but decided I needed to make them again but with a twist!

Here's how we make green smoothie at our house ... to yours!

I absolutely adore berry smoothies - and so does my entire family. But, every now and then, we go through green smoothie phases. This past week, I bought a huge pack of baby spinach, pineapple, mangos and a huge pile of ripe bananas (which I later froze). This was to start our week of green smoothies!

Green smoothies are not only lovely to drink, but so good for you. If you're tired of eating your greens, you can simply drink 'em. There are days when I just don't want a leafy green salad but know my body could use one. That's when I tap into the green smoothie. Green smoothies are basically perfect portable food! If you want to make a green smoothie, but don't know how ... here's our very own green smoothie recipe that is great tasting and kid-friendly too ...

The health benefits of eating mango are far from scarce ... include this glorious fruit in your diet today!

In the above video I make one of my family's favourite smoothies - Mango Smoothie Delight. It is easy to make and tastes delicious! In the Spring, we start to see a lot of this fruit at the local grocer and we can't get enough of it. My kids love mango and fight over it when I put it out for a snack. I buy about 6 to 10 per week, and it just isn't enough!

Here's why we love eating mango and why you should incorporate it into your diet too ...

Truly strawberrilicious!

This drink is so very simple and so very sweet. I made this the other day and my kids absolutely loved it. I thought I'd share it. Strawberries and pineapple are the main stars of this drink with the addition of vanilla almond milk, dates and honey. Yum!

"This new year ... focus oncleansingthe body from the inside out ..."

So we all do it ... eat far too much over the holidays. But its never too late to heal and rejuvenate the body from the inside out. Simply look at each day as a new opportunity to refresh and cleanse the body, mind and soul. Also, don't forget to not be too hard on yourself, and remember, if you are reading this you are half way there!

So, for me, nothing cleanses the body like oranges ... and especially, freshly pressed orange juice from organic oranges. Oranges are nature's gift to mankind really! They are nutrient dense and highly cleansing. They contain an array of essential vitamins including: A, B1, B2, B6, C, E, biotin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and folic acid. They contain an impressive amount of minerals as well, including: calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc. In addition, oranges contain all 18 amino acids. Don't think you'll be missing out if you opt for a tall cup of OJ instead of your regular fare this morning. Oranges contain carbohydrates, protein and even fat! That's right, each orange contains a modest amount of fat - not a lot, but just the right amount to start your day and allow for a slow release of the sugars naturally occurring in OJ. So, give it a try, juice up a tall cup of OJ and drink away. Throw the juice and a banana in your blender for added fibre and nutrition, and you have yourself a quick orange-banana smoothie.

Start the year off right - focus on cleansing the body from the inside out!

Sometimes nothing hits the spot like a tall glass of greens. You really can't possibly know what I'm talking about unless you try it for yourself ... and do it consistently for some period of time. Your body begins to crave the greens in a real and serious way.

Try and juice some greens today. Whatever you've got. And, if you don't have a juicer they are really affordable these days and easily attainable too. You can get one almost anywhere. I absolutely love my Breville. I swear by it and use it to juice almost anything.

WILDBLUEBERRIESmarry hazelnutmilk to make a lovely, silky smooth morning drink.

I'm all about the BLUES. That is, when you eat your fruit and veggies, you gotta make sure you eat the rainbow. We normally get a lot of greens, yellows and reds (lemons, oranges, bananas, apples, watermelons, etc.). But, we rarely get enough of the blues/purples (dark grapes, blueberries, blackberries, etc.). These dark blues and purples are so beneficial. These darker fruits and veggies have been proven to prevent and even stop the growth of cancer! While all dark fruits and veggies are rich in cancer-fighting 'anthocyanins', in terms of the biggest anti-cancer punch, black raspberries and wild blueberries are first in line.

This smoothie is a great way to start your day. It is loaded with wild blueberries and blended in a base of home-made hazelnut milk. Wow! It is totally delicious and a favourite for my kids.